TREES TOLD BY THEIR BARK OR TRUNK 63 



planted very little, but the Oriental sycamore is used quite 

 extensively in its place, especially as a shade tree. The 

 Oriental sycamore is 

 superior to the native 

 species in many ways. 

 It is more shapely, 

 faster growing, and 

 hardier than the na- 

 tive one. Both syca- 

 mores will bear trans- 

 planting and pruning 

 well. 



Commercial value : 

 The wood of the syca- 

 more is coarse-grained 

 and hard to work; 

 used occasionally for 

 inside finishing in 

 buildings. 



Other names :But- 

 tonball, buttonwood. 



Comparisons: The 

 Oriental sycamore 

 (Platanus orientalis) 

 an introduced species, 

 is apt to be confused 

 with the Occidental 

 sycamore, but may 

 be told from the lat- 

 ter by the number of 

 seed balls suspended 



from the tree. In the case of the Oriental species, the 

 seed balls hang in pairs or (rarely) three or four together. 



FIG. 51. Bark of the Black or Sweet 

 Birch. 



